With their retro charm and simple-yet frantic gameplay, pinball games have become a staple of classic gaming; one with near-universal, timeless appeal. While much of their allure is tethered to physical machines, some developers have discovered ways to put a fun 'spin' on the formula with virtual pinball.
These include adding powerups, specific missions, and even combat; details that arcade machines can't typically replicate. Some have opted for coloring in details by way of fun, imaginative settings and lore, which draw in players and entice them to keep button-mashing their way to high-score glory. These are the best pinball games decorated with the most imaginative and memorable lore.
6 Demon's Tilt
Created by designer Adam Ferando — under the moniker WIZNWAR — Demon's Tilt pits gamers in a particularly wild setting as they flip, hack, and fire their way to victory. The game paints a vibrant, detailed scene by tossing various enemies their way, including intense boss fights across three distinct screens. Beyond just its fun visuals and solid mechanics, Demon's Tilt excels in its thick atmosphere and progression system that feels more like a traditional game.
This is achieved by way of in-depth missions or "rituals", as well some dark, colorful imagery. The game sprinkles in creepy monsters and ominous demons that include a Manticore and High Priestess.
The blend of fast-paced pinball, thrilling shmup gameplay, and dark occult elements, round out a memorable pinball romp. Demon's Tilt entices gamers to take a deeper dive into its Gothic settings and lore; which uses its Lovecraft and tarot inspiration to its advantage.
5 Sonic Spinball
Sega's speedy blue mascot would seem to make a terrific fit for the similarly wild, fast-paced, nature of pinball. One need only harken back to the stimulating 'Casino Night Zone' from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for key evidence. The Japanese studio emphatically makes this case with 1993's Sonic Spinball, initially released for Game Gear.
Being a rare game of its ilk with pre-established world-building as well as a plot, Sonic Spinball launches the player into a truly dynamic pinball experience. Set in the same universe as the '93 Sonic animated series — players must zip, bounce, and blast their way through a volcanic fortress to stop Doctor Robotnik from morphing the local creatures into robotic slaves.
Through this chaotic, and occasionally disorienting trip, Sonic must power through various biomes and nab the Chaos Emeralds which power the base. Balancing out the frantic arcade gameplay is some impressive level design and a web of pathways that bring a bit of action platforming.
4 Pinball Pulse: The Ancients Beckon
The now-defunct DSiWare's Pinball Pulse: The Ancients Beckon had the misfortune of getting buried within an online library of hundreds. Still, this deep, obscure romp earned something of a cult following among the few who did notice it when it released in 2009.
Long before Hades, Fuse Games' title was excelling in its fun use of Greek mythology and lore, featuring Olympians, Sirens, Medusas, and a guiding Oracle. The game is at once a rich fantasy trip and a solid, realistic pinball sim.
The tactile mechanics and multi-layered settings, divided by the two DS screens, yield a true arcade pinball feel. At the same time, gamelike details such as mythic quests given by the Medusa statue color the experience. One quest, for example, has the player helping people escape a pursuing Cyclops by striking Medusa's saucer in order to blind it.
3 Odama
GameCube had no shortage of unique, innovative titles — exemplified by this tactical warfare and pinball hybrid. Set in feudal Japan, players assume the role of Yamanouchi Kagetora, who seeks to avenge his betrayed father's death. To aid in this, he brings to life a potent weapon called the Odama; a large orb that can obliterate all in its path. This object of destruction takes the form of the player's pinball, which can be fired by the large flippers to mow down enemy hordes.
Yamanouchi fittingly fights with the inspiration of 'Ninten-do', or 'the way of heavenly duty', by banding his troops together to fight off the larger opposition. The goal — aside from taking out enemy troops — is to protect one's own fighters using basic commands and clear a path, so they can transport a large bell through their shattered gate. Along with its distinct genre-bending gameplay, Odama boasts a rare original character in a pinball game with an actual backstory.
2 Metroid Prime Pinball
Nintendo's hit sci-fi adventure has always leaned on an alluring atmosphere and imaginative lore. These traits remain largely intact when it comes to 2005's Metroid Pinball, despite its more straightforward gameplay. While the tough, dynamic Metroid series may seem like an odd choice for a pinball theme, Fuse Games cleverly implements franchise elements like Samus' Morph Ball to its advantage, making the transition seem quite natural.
Being a spin-off of the Prime titles, Metroid Prime Pinball sprinkles in story and lore details from the series debut on GameCube, with six settings each inspired by locales like the Phazon Mines and Tallon Overworld. With a fairly deep progression system of securing Artifacts, a potent Metroid feel, and great use of the DS' features, Metroid Prime Pinball remains a stellar title in the genre.
1 Rollers Of The Realm
It's no easy feat to present a deep, cohesive plot and world-building through a simple pinball game — but Phantom Compass pulls it off with the RPG-style Rollers of the Realm. Released in 2014, this fantasy-themed pinball game takes players on a journey with several detailed indoor and outdoor scenes, which serve as backdrops of the pinball board.
With their wooden flippers, players assist a group of misfits who must band together and bring light to a medieval world mired in darkness and sinister magic. Along with typical pinball gameplay and mechanics, Rollers of the Realm colors the experience with puzzles and physics-based combat, several unique characters (pinballs), special moves like flaming swords, and loot drops that yield upgrades.